Olson calls for resumption of Pak-US strategic dialogue

United States (US) Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson on Friday urged for resumption of strategic dialogue between Pakistan and America.
Olson expressed these views in a meeting with Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad.
The American ambassador felicitated Khan on assuming charge of the ministry and on peaceful transition from one civilian government to another in Pakistan.
The minister and the ambassador discussed issues of mutual interest including the Doha Talks that are likely to be held between Afghan Taliban and America.
The minister welcomed these talks and said Nawaz Sharif’s government firmly believed that dialogue and reconciliation was the only way forward in bringing peace to the region.
He said it was a matter of satisfaction that Pakistan was able to play a role in this process and appreciated US acknowledgement in this regard. He hoped this process would eventually lead to peace and stability in the region, especially in Afghanistan.
Olson thanked Pakistan for its positive role in the forthcoming talks between America and the Afghan Taliban. The ambassador also assured that all stakeholders would be taken into confidence before any conclusion of the talks.
The interior minister also discussed stability of the region post 2014, when American forces would leave the region and would hand over security of Afghanistan to Afghan forces.
Olson assured the US would continue to work closely with Pakistan to ensure stability in the region.
Olson said Pakistan was a very important country because of its strategic position, nuclear status and democracy. Stressing on the need for strategic dialogue between Pakistan and America, he hoped that working groups formed to deal with energy, defense, economy etc. would start meeting again.
Olson said a mechanism would be settled in the forthcoming visit of the US Secretary of State John Kerry to Pakistan.
The minister said Pakistan believed in institutional assistance rather than economic assistance. He said the government aspired to have long lasting relations with America based on trust and transparency.
Nisar said Pakistan’s role in the regional context was going to be critical, since US would not want Afghanistan to return to chaos. He said within two years, results of the government’s new policies would manifest themselves in front of everyone.